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Rockfall leads to 20-minute Highway 99E closures

UPDATE: Closures of up to 20 minutes may needed on Wednesday and Thursday as well, while crews check the hillside for loose rocks on McLoughlin Boulevard in Oregon City

A few large rocks fell onto McLoughlin Boulevard near milepost 14 on Sunday, about a mile south of the Oregon City tunnel, forcing closure of the northbound lane. Northbound traffic has been getting by in the median.

Also called Highway 99E, the roadway intermittently closed for up to 20 minutes at a time Tuesday to northbound traffic while crews check the adjacent hillside for loose rocks that may threaten the highway. On Tuesday afternoon, ODOT announced that intermittent closures on Wednesday and Thursday may be necessary as well.

Rock scalers Tuesday began inspecting the hillside after the morning commute. The 20-minute closures will continue as needed until the hillside is free of dangerous rocks, said ODOT spokesman Don Hamilton.

The closures should have no impact on the southbound lanes, Hamilton said.